Question:
Hello. Jim. The VA refuses to give me a new primary Care doctor. I have been trying for about 3 years, they still disprove my request.
Jim's Reply:
When we choose a system like the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to provide our health care, that choice comes with a unique set of restrictions along with the advantages offered by VHA.
First up, we don't get to choose a provider without a really good reason for VA to do so. We all recognize and understand that there may be conflicts or differences of opinion that can arise during your care and if there are legit and well grounded reasons to make a change, VA will do that pretty quickly.
But VA isn't required to make such changes in their personnel roster based on some whim or bias of yours. Since you don't tell me why you want a new doctor you leave me open to assume and I'll guess that it's the usual reason...your current doctor won't prescribe you the medications you want. A lot of vets want a new provider when their current doc takes away their opiates or benzos and they believe a new doctor will be more sympathetic.
In any case, after 3 years of denials I'd suggest that you make peace with your provider and focus your energy elsewhere.